2017 Prius 2 best audio upgrades?

If I did lose any oem functionality, I didn't notice. I would start with replacement speakers though. Probably the biggest bang for your buck.

 

I changed everything. I have a JVC head unit, Audio Control amplifiers, Audiofrog mids and highs, and Massive ToroX 12" subs.

 

How difficult was changing out the speakers? I’m not as concerned about the door speakers as that seems fairly straightforward. The ones in the dash seem like they will be difficult to get to.

 

I posted an album with photos on here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/FPFbQa3ZR8spjmWK6

 

Issues to note with changing out the speakers (at least on a Prius Prime 2018 with non-JBL):
1. It is difficult to run aftermarket speaker wire from the cabin to the door. Very little space.
2. If using the factory speaker wire in the door, keep in mind that this wire is connected in parallel with the dash speakers. This means that if you disconnect the dash speaker, power will not run to the door speaker.

 

Not sure where you heard about losing some functions. If you get an idatalink compatible head unit, you’ll keep the functions and get more. With most other head units, you can keep at least the basics with most used functions assuming you are getting a compatible aftermarket head unit. Something with an equalizer, crossover control is recommended. I installed a compact amp behind the head unit. My head unit has CarPlay,but not cd or dvd, do it was pretty compact which allowed to fit the amp behind. It got a bit tight with all the aftermarket harness and amp, but it all fit. I reused the same wiring (dash speaker wiring parallel with door speakers). I replaced all 6 speakers with inifinity references coaxial. The sound is much cleaner, a little brighter, and bass is punchier. I got an underseat subwoofer to add a bit more bass since the punchier bass of the speakers didn’t hit the really low tones well. The dash speaker has a really large capacitor that prevents bass from going through. I didn’t install a capacitor crossover on my new dash speakers but I do notice a tiny bit of distortion on low frequencies. The aftermarket dash speakers did come with a 270uf capacitor so I’ll be installing that this weekend.

 

It's great to see somebody that is not shy about taking their car apart

 

Although the speaker wire on the car is a small gauge, it'll do the job for reasonable size wattage speakers. I have 55 watt RMS infinty reference speakers and they are plenty loud. There are plenty of good brands out there. But if you want quality, get some oxygen-free copper. If you are not running any major power to speakers, I wouldn't recommend upgrading. On the forum, some have tried and had extreme trouble trying to get the speaker wires through the door jam. and I've heard the sound didn't really make too much of an upgrade. If you are really determined for new speaker wire, I found that NVX is a good brand you can find on amazon or Sonic Electronix. Stinger makes some really good quality stuff as well.

I'm a bit unsure on what you are trying to do with the old speaker wire, but those are all bundled up in a harness all taped and wrapped like many other wires in the car. If you are trying to take out those wires, you'll have to break apart all the harnesses, which is impossible to do cleanly. You are better off leaving them alone, and running the new speaker wires.

The car button only displayed some few diagnostics and a very few controls. I forgot what features it had (tells how much I missed it). Those controls, you can most likely get if you use techstream software or carista. My head unit, a recent model pioneer DMH-1500NEX connects to OBD2 connector and receives a lot of different diagnostics.

The underseat subwoofer was my last project on the list, installing a Cerwin Vega VPAS10. I installed it under the driver seat. There are air vents under the seat which forced me to install it front/back portrait style instead of left/right landscape direction. This caused the subwoofer to peek out a bit in the back and gives the back seat passenger less leg room. But I used a NVX 8 gauge amp kit for my Alpine KTA-450 compact amp which I managed to fit behind the head unit and used the RCA cable and leftover power wire for the subwoofer. I am currently enjoying my setup. I can turn it up just a notch when the kids are away, subwoofer is just the right amount of power for me.

Hopefully that helps. BTW, my DIY job looked exactly like Gas Mizer's pictures that he had. It is pretty involved, but you get to understand your car better. Be patient, and having Amazon ship me supplies in 2 days whenever I needed it really helped out.